Roy Burton, of Dialight, R.I.P.

Roy Burton, 68 of Germantown passed away July 19, 2015. He was born June 14, 1947 in Ulverston, Cumbria, England. He graduated from Imperial College London with a B.Sc., (Special Honours) in Theoretical Physics. Roy had an extensive career in the electronic industry including Phillips Electronics, ITT, and Amphenol Corporation. In 1989, Roy relocated to the United States where he held the following positions with Amphenol Corporation: Vice President and General Manager of Aerospace, Vice President and General Manager of Commercial Operation and Corporate Vice President.

In 1994, Roy relocated to Memphis to join Thomas & Betts Corporation where he held the position of Group President of Electronics and grew the business 10 fold by the year 2000; this business was subsequently sold at a significant profit. Roy joined Dialight in 2002. He served as the Chief Executive of Dialight plc and was instrumental in transforming the company from a division of a larger UK group to the independent company it is today through his unique combination of energy, drive and commitment. After more than 12 years with Dialight the share price grew 10 times and Dialight Corporation was invited to join the FTSE Index.

Roy is survived by his wife, Keely Burton of Germantown, TN; his daughters, Natalie Zara Burton of Dallas, TX and Georgina Sophie Burton of Boston, MA; sister, Pamela Whittam of Ulverston, Cumbria, England; nephew, Stephen Whittam of Preston, Lancashire, England and his step daughter, Elizabeth Damoc of Dallas, TX. Roy was a loving husband, father, brother and friend, he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 23 from 3 pm until memorial service at 4 pm in the Riverside Chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home. A reception will follow services. Memorials may be made to the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, “Behind the Stone Wall”

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